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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679

Docket ID: [Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 091900A]

NOTICE: RULES

ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Closure.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sharpchin and Northern Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 20, 2000, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the amount of the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area has been achieved.

SUMMARY: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Sharpchin and northern rockfish,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.

The 2000 TAC of noncommunity development quota sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI was established as 4,764 metric tons in the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 8282, February 18, 2000). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii).

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 2000 TAC for sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI has been achieved. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI be treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b).

Classification

This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to prevent exceeding the amount of the 2000 TAC of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is contrary to the public interest. The fleet has taken the amount of the 2000 TAC of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.

This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: September 20, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0024592 Filed 92000; 4:44 pm] BILLING CODE 351022S

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.